Stocking-stretcher



C. FOWLER.

STOCKING STRETCHER. APPLICATION rxuzo JUNK-122,, I920.

401 0 5. Patented Dem 20, 1921.

amnwfoz UNITED STATES CHARLES FOWLER, 0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STOCKING-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters latcnt. Patentgd De 20 1921 Application filed June 22, 1920. Serial No. 390,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stocking-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stocking stretchers.

The primary object of the invention is to provide for a comparatively simple and inexpensive construction of the character mentioned, and one in which the foot as well as the leg portion of a stocking is expanded and stretched laterally in all directions rather than in a transverse direction from front to rear as has heretofore obtained in the art to which the same relates.

With this and other objects in view as will be readily apparent as the invention is further explained, the same resides in the certain novel construction and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the invention, as shown, is preferably constructed entirely of a suitable sized wire, but the same may readily be similarly formed of other material such as strap iron, hoop wood, or the like, and, in any case, the same comprises in general a foot portion a, a heel portion Z) and an ankle portion 0.

In the present instance, the device is constructed wholly of wire, and in the embodiment shown, the foot and heel portions or and b are formed of a single piece of wire bent on curved lines to form a toe stretching portion 10, an intermediate toe stretching portion 11, intermediate heel stretching portions 12 and a heel stretching end portion 13, all curving one into the other and conforming generally to a contour outline of the foot of a person. The portions 11 and 12, at opposite sides of the device are bent at their point of connection or juncture to 7 provide eyes 14 in transverse alinement,

while the free ends of the single piece of wire forming the toe and heel portions or and Z), in their entirety, are suitably bent and twisted into interlocked engagement, one with the other to either side of the center of the heel portion 13, and in a manner to provide an eye 15at the center of the latter.

The ankle portion 0 comprises a single piece of wire bent on a curved line, and substantially Ushaped, inverted as shown, the opposite arms 16 of which having their freeends bent to provide eyes 1? in loose or hlnging engagement with the eyes 14 of the toe and heel portions a and b, and. when the device is not in use, this ankle portion 0 may be folded down onto the heel portion 6. Medially of the curved portion of the ankle portion 0, the wire is bent to form an eye 18, the same being adapted to be engaged by a hooked end portion-19 of a supporting element or brace member 20, also made of wire, and having its lower end bent to provide an eye 21 in hinging engagement with the eye 15 of the heel portion 7), the brace member 20 being adapted to retain the ankle portion 0 in its raised position, when the device is in use.

1n its-use, the device be inserted into the foot portion of a sock or stocking in either set-up or collapsed condition, and in the latter case, the ankle portion 0 is lifted to raised position and the hook 19, of the brace member 20, engaged in the eye 18, and, in either case, the toe and heel portions 0 and b will expand or stretch the foot portion of the sock or stocking laterally in all directions, while the ankle portion 0 will retain and hold the ankle portion of the sock or stocking in raised, or partly raised position and free from the foot portion of the same. The device may be used simply as a sock or stocking expander, or as a stretcher in the drying of the latter as after the same have been washed, It is to be noted that even when a sock or stocking has been properly ironed for use, the device may be inserted into position for expanding or in specific construction and arrangement, and materialsusedfmay be resorted to, as hereinbeiore indicated, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

' Having thus fully described the inven-' tion, what I claim, is

A device of the character described comprising an open frame having substantially the shape of the human foot and cmbodydng a toe portion and a heel portion; a

bailshaped member having its arms connector to the sides o1""'sa1d frame at or about the points of lntersection or said toe and heel portions, and a brace member for con- .necting the bight p rtlon oi? said ball-shaped member with. the bight of the heel portion of the frame.

2. A device 01" the character described comprising an open frame having substantially the shape of the human foot, said frame embodying a toe portion a heel portion, a hailshaped member having its armspivotally connected with the sides of the frame at orabout the points of intersection of said toe and heel portions, Whereby said ba1l-shaped member is a-daptedito be folded substantially in parallel relation to the frame, and a brace pivotally connected with the bi ht of the heel portion of the frame and adapted for detachable engagement with the eight of the bail-shaped member for holding said bail-shaped member in an erect position. 1

8. A device of the character described comprising an open frame formed of wire and having substantially the shape or the human foot said frame embodying toe and heel portions, a bail-shaped member of Wire having its arms pivotally connected with the sides of said frame at. or near the points of intersection of said toe and heel portions,

and abrace pivotally connected with the bi'g'ht ofthe toe portion'and adapted'for de tachable engagement with the bight portion of the bail-shaped member for holding" said bail-shaped member in an erect position and permitting release ofsaid bail-shaped member to adapt it to be folded down. upon the frame substantially parallel therewith.

4-. A device of 'the class described, comprising a toe portion and aheelportion in; V

tegrallyiormed of a single. piece of Wire and of a shape approximating the contour, outline ofthe foot of a person, eyes formed in ransverse alineinent ofand intermediate the toe and heel portions an ankle portion formedoii a single piece of Wire and having its opposite ends hingedly engaging said eye-s, an eye formed medially ofthe heel portion, a similar eye formed medially of the connected ends of the ankle portion, and a brace member connecting the last mentioned eyes whereby to retain the ankle portion in Y In testimony whereoi Iailix my signature.

CHARLES FOWLER. 

